Promoting strong public schools for Providence\’s East Side and beyond

Followup on taxes

Despite the poll results below, the legislature last night passed a cap on property tax increases. Property owners may rejoice, but friends of public education will be concerned. There is still no adequate state funding formula. Last year the ProJo reported:

RHODE ISLAND ranks near the bottom — 43rd nationally — for state support of education. The state claims second place in dependence on property tax to pay for schools. Only Hawaii relies more heavily on property taxes than Rhode Island, according to studies cited by the speakers. (3/13/05).

While property tax relief is welcome, the combination of high reliance on property taxes and limits on those taxes could spell trouble for public schools, as in California after Prop. 13. Perhaps the silver lining will be that it will force a rethinking of the state formula- hopefully before too much damage is done.